Hearing delayed for double homicide suspect

Jessicah Peters

Wednesday

Dec 5, 2012 at 10:44 AM

A grand jury hearing for Hardeeville double homicide suspect Bernard Jenkins, charged in October with murder, has been delayed until Feb. 21, according to Daniel Brownstein of the 14th Circuit Solicitor's Office.The hearing was scheduled for Tuesday."SLED still has portions of the investigation that are open," Brownstein said. "We want to make sure that the investigation is complete and all of the evidence is presented to the grand jury, so the hearing will be delayed."Last Thursday, state Law Enforcement Division Lt. Shawn Harley said Jenkins' blood was found on the car and on one of the victims' clothing. Harley, testifying at the preliminary hearing Thursday, said Jenkins was the last person seen with Desmond Brown, 25, of Hardeeville, and Octavia Scott, 26, of Bluffton before their bodies were found May 11. Jenkins was charged in October with the murder of Brown and Scott. Law enforcement argued Jenkins, 19, killed Brown and Scott over a $10,000 check.Attorney Cory Fleming asked for Jenkins' release during Thursday's hearing arguing there was insufficient evidence to make an arrest. Judge Lisa Kamppi denied Fleming's request because the investigation is ongoing. She also cited the strength of evidence against Jenkins. Fleming said according to witnesses, two unidentified people threatened to shoot the house of Scott on May 6 because the check belonged to them. Police have not found the check or the weapon.The bodies of Brown and Scott were found May 11 in a ditch on a dirt portion of Purrysburg Road beside a borrowed car that had struck a large pine tree. The car was described by police as a 2007 Infiniti four-door sedan. Emergency personnel were initially called to the scene for a car wreck with bodies on the ground.Jasper County Coroner Martin Sauls said in May both deaths were caused by gunshot wounds to the head and the victims' deaths were instantaneous.Jenkins was arrested in June on a bench warrant for failing to appear in court for burglary charges.Jenkins was booked at the Jasper County Detention Center. Since his October arrest, he has been transferred to the Beaufort County Detention Center.

Kelly Champlin contributed to this report.

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